Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
in lichen nest
Wild Turkey
Ditto
Lesser Prairie Chicken
Horned Lark
Male Prairie Chicken
Ditto
Eastern Meadowlark
Male Prairie Chicken
Thirteen Lined Ground Squirrel
Male Prairie Chicken
Ditto
Deflated Sac of Displaying
Male Lesser Prairie Chicken
Sac Filled with Air
Ditto
Full Display
At Rest
Jumping Display
Displaying and Calling
Territory Face-off Between Two Males
"In Your Face"
Most Likely Owner of this Lek Territory
04-15-16
50-52 degrees F/partly cloudy/27-34 mph winds/45 degrees wind chill
Today was the best of all three days that I was attending the Lesser Prairie Chicken Festival.
It had been extremely arid, so much so that wildfires have been fought all over the dry
grasslands in the OK and TX area. It did not rain today, but it was predicted for tomorrow
and Sunday. Fire is not always negative for these birds, but it isn't particularly helpful at
their critical mating season.
At approximately 0545 hrs., just prior to sunrise, we were set up in a permanent metal
blind and within a half hour, we could hear approaching male Lesser Prairie Chickens
approaching the lek, which is an area where males gather to display to entice prospective
female partners.
It was most likely that females were on these grounds prior to sunrise, as the males were in a
state of frenzy. No females were on the grounds during daylight, and we saw approximately
ten males. They performed various rituals trying to entice females to come around and were
calling and cackling, as well as fighting with each other for the top position. One male was
the owner of this territory, and was not prepared to give it up.
This is a very rare bird, even in its home states of both Oklahoma and Texas in the arid
grasslands with low shrubs, including sandsage and shin oak, as well as other natural growth.
They form flocks in the winter and may be found in agricultural land as well as natural native
prairie.
However, humanity is the boon of this beautiful bird, which is rapidly losing ground, due to
oilfields, wind turbines, and construction of homes and businesses. An already rare, local and
declining bird like this will not be available for future generations if we keep taking their homes.
These birds have been a threatened species since March of 2014, and their population decreased
25% from 2014 to 2015 alone. Help me help them through the National Prairie Chicken Initiative
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/programs/initiatives/?cid=nrcsdev11_023912
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